Sunday smorgasbord: The Chicago Bulls sent a message to the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks in their game Saturday night at the United Center. And the message was something like this: We’re a better team with Joakim Noah and Mike Dunleavy in the lineup. Yeah, not exactly the message any Bulls-affiliated folks were hoping to send.
* Speaking of the Bulls who were without Noah and Dunleavy because of injuries, they lost 107-99. Pretty sure the Bulls already know this, but they might want to guard former teammate Kyle Korver next time they play. He had a game-high 24 points and was 7-of-9 on three-pointers.
* Bulls fans in search of consolation can point to Derrick Rose’s 23 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in 37 minutes. Something says those fans would prefer to be pointing to a victory instead. But, hey, it’s January and not the postseason.
* The Bulls have lost five of seven. On the bright (?) side, they are regular-season contests.
* At Cubs Convention on Saturday, the team said the Wrigley Field bleachers will not be ready on time. Meaning in April. Perhaps some time in May. Maybe. The Cubs are targeting May 11 for the left-field bleachers to be ready and late May for the right-field bleachers. Something says reconstructing the actual ballclub into a World Series contender also might take longer than anticipated. The Cubs may have had a five-year plan under Theo Epstein, but did anyone ever says what five years?
* From the fine folks at Bovada (www.Bovada.lv, Twitter: @BovadaLV) are some numbers for purely entertainment purposes (although if you happen to bet — legally, of course — and win a ton of money that you don’t know what to do with, we certainly can start a charitable foundation around here; doubtful that it would be tax-deductible):
NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Which conference championship game will have the higher TV rating?
GB vs SEA EVEN (1/1)
IND vs NE -140 (5/7)
Which market will have the higher TV rating?
Green Bay 5/4
Seattle 9/5
Indianapolis 5/1
Boston 3/1
Will either game go to overtime?
Yes +750 (15/2)
No -1500 (1/15)
How many calls will be overturned both games combined?
Over/Under 1½
Will anyone from the Patriots besides Tom Brady attempt a pass?
Yes +1000 (10/1)
No -2000 (1/20)
Conference Championship Stats Leaders
Who will record the most Passing Yards?
Andrew Luck (IND) 5/4
Tom Brady (NE) 2/1
Aaron Rodgers (GB) 3/1
Russell Wilson (SEA) 7/1
Who will record the most Rushing Yards?
Marshawn Lynch (SEA) RB 10/11
Eddie Lacy (GB) RB 11/10
Dan Herron (IND) RB 7/1
Russell Wilson (SEA) QB 10/1
Who will record the most Receiving Yards?
Rob Gronkowski (NE) TE 3/1
Jordy Nelson (GB) WR 4/1
Randall Cobb (GB) WR 5/1
T.Y. Hilton (IND) WR 5/1
Julian Edelman (NE) WR 6/1
Brandon LaFell (NE) WR 9/1
Doug Baldwin (SEA) WR 10/1
Jermaine Kearse (SEA) WR 15/1
Dan Herron (IND) RB 15/1
Green Bay at Seattle Props
Total Passing Yards – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over/Under 260½
Total Completions – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over/Under 22½
Total Passing Attempts in the game – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over/Under 34½
Total TD Passes – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over 2 (+110, 11/10)
Under 2 (-140, 5/7)
Total TD Passes – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
0 4/1
1 2/1
2 11/5
3 3/1
4 or more 7/1
Total Interceptions – Aaron Rodgers (GB)
Over ½ (-160, 5/8)
Under ½ (+130, 13/10)
Total Rushing Yards – Eddie Lacy (GB)
Over/Under 75½
(GB @ SEA) – Total Receiving Yards – Eddie Lacy (GB)
Over/Under 17½
Will Eddie Lacy (GB) score a TD in the game?
Yes +120 (6/5)
No -150 (2/3)
Total Receiving Yards – Jordy Nelson (GB)
Over/Under 75½
Total Receptions – Jordy Nelson (GB)
Over/Under 5½
Will Jordy Nelson (GB) score a TD in the game?
Yes +125 (5/4)
No -155 (20/31)
Total Receiving Yards – Randall Cobb (GB)
Over/Under 72½
Total Receptions – Randall Cobb (GB)
Over/Under 5½
Will Randall Cobb (GB) score a TD in the game?
Yes +125 (5/4)
No -155 (20/31)
Total Receiving Yards – Devante Adams (GB)
Over/Under 32½
Total Sacks – Clay Matthews (GB)
Over ½ (-200, 1/2)
Under ½ (+160, 8/5)
Total Passing Yards – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 219
Total Completions – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 17½
Total Passing Attempts in the game – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 27½
Total TD Passes – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over 1½ (-140, 5/7)
Under 1½ (+110, 11/10)
Total TD Passes – Russell Wilson (SEA)
0 3/1
1 7/4
2 11/5
3 5/1
4 or more 9/1
Total Interceptions – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over ½ (-130, 10/13)
Under ½ (EVEN, 1/1)
Total Rushing Yards – Russell Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 39½
Will Russell Wilson (SEA) score a Rushing TD in the game?
Yes +250 (5/2)
No -325 (4/13)
Total Rushing Yards – Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Over/Under 84½
Total Rushing Attempts in the game – Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Over/Under 17½
Total Receiving Yards – Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Over/Under 17½
Will Marshawn Lynch (SEA) score a TD in the game?
Yes -200 (1/2)
No +160 (8/5)
Total Receiving Yards – Doug Baldwin (SEA)
Over/Under 47½
Total Receptions – Doug Baldwin (SEA)
Over 3½ (-150, 2/3)
Under 3½ (+120, 6/5)
Will Doug Baldwin (SEA) score a TD in the game?
Yes +170 (17/10)
No -210 (10/21)
Total Receiving Yards – Jermaine Kearse (SEA)
Over/Under 37½
Will Jermaine Kearse (SEA) score a TD in the game?
Yes +240 (12/5)
No -300 (1/3)
Total Receiving Yards – Luke Wilson (SEA)
Over/Under 27½
Total Tackles & Assists – Bobby Wagner (SEA)
Over/Under 9½
Total Interceptions – Richard Sherman (SEA)
Over ½ (+200, 2/2)
Under ½ (-250, 2/5)
Indianapolis at New England Props
Total Passing Yards – Andrew Luck (IND)
Over/Under 295½
Total Completions – Andrew Luck (IND)
Over/Under 25½
Total Passing Attempts in the game – Andrew Luck (IND)
Over/Under 41½
Total TD Passes – Andrew Luck (IND)
Over 2 (-140, 5/7)
Under 2 (+110, 11/10)
Total TD Passes – Andrew Luck (IND)
0 7/1
1 13/5
2 9/4
3 13/4
4 or more 3/1
Total Interceptions – Andrew Luck (IND)
0 2/1
1 3/2
2 5/2
3 or more 7/1
Total Rushing Yards – Andrew Luck (IND)
Over/Under 17
Will Andrew Luck (IND) score a Rushing TD in the game?
Yes +300 (3/1)
No -400 (1/4)
Total Rushing Yards – Dan Herron (IND)
Over/Under 57½
Total Rushing Attempts in the game – Dan Herron (IND)
Over/Under 14½
Total Receiving Yards – Dan Herron (IND)
Over/Under 32½
Total Receptions – Dan Herron (IND)
Over/Under 4½
Will Dan Herron (IND) score a TD in the game?
Yes +150 (3/2)
No -180 (5/9)
Total Receiving Yards – T.Y. Hilton (IND)
Over/Under 72½
Total Receptions – T.Y. Hilton (IND)
Over/Under 5
Will T.Y. Hilton (IND) score a TD in the game?
Yes +120 (6/5)
No -150 (2/3)
Total Receiving Yards – Donte Moncrief (IND)
Over/Under 32½
Total Receiving Yards – Reggie Wayne (IND)
Over/Under 25½
Total Receiving Yards – Hakeem Nicks (IND)
Over/Under 25½
Total Receiving Yards – Coby Fleener (IND)
Over/Under 40½
Will Coby Fleener (IND) score a TD in the game?
Yes +140 (7/5)
No -170 (10/17)
Total Receiving Yards – Dwayne Allen (IND)
Over/Under 30½
Total Passing Yards – Tom Brady (NE)
Over/Under 285½
Total Completions – Tom Brady (NE)
Over/Under 24
Total Passing Attempts in the game – Tom Brady (NE)
Over/Under 36½
Total TD Passes – Tom Brady (NE)
Over 2 (-150, 2/3)
Under 2 (+120, 6/5)
Total TD Passes – Tom Brady (NE)
0 6/1
1 11/4
2 9/4
3 13/4
4 or more 3/1
Total Interceptions – Tom Brady (NE)
Over ½ (-150, 2/3)
Under ½ (+120. 6/5)
Total Rushing Yards – LeGarette Blount (NE)
Over/Under 42½
Total Rushing Attempts in the game – LeGarette Blount (NE)
Over/Under 9½
Will LeGarette Blount (NE) score a TD in the game?
Over +130 (13/10)
Under -160 (8/5)
Total Rushing Yards – Shane Vereen (NE)
Over/Under 15½
Total Receiving Yards – Shane Vereen (NE)
Over/Under 30½
Total Receptions – Shane Vereen (NE)
Over/Under 3½
Will Shane Vereen (NE) score a TD in the game?
Yes +160 (8/5)
No -200 (1/2)
Total Receiving Yards – Julian Edelman (NE)
Over/Under 72½
Total Receptions – Julian Edelman (NE)
Over/Under 6½
Will Julian Edelman (NE) score a TD in the game?
Over +130 (13/10)
Under -160 (8/5)
Total Receiving Yards – Brandon LaFell (NE)
Over/Under 60½
Total Receptions – Brandon LaFell (NE)
Over/Under 4½
Will Brandon LaFell (NE) score a TD in the game?
Yes +150 (2/3)
No -180 (5/9)
Total Receiving Yards – Rob Gronkowski (NE)
Over/Under 79½
Total Receptions – Rob Gronkowski (NE)
Over/Under 6
Will Rob Gronkowski (NE) score a TD in the game?
Yes -200 (1/2)
No +160 (8/5)
Super Bowl Odds and Ends
Odds to win Super Bowl XLIX
Seattle Seahawks 5/4
New England Patriots 19/10
Green Bay Packers 11/2
Indianapolis Colts 13/2
Super Bowl Exact Matchup
New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks 5/6
New England Patriots vs Green Bay Packers 4/1
Indianapolis Colts vs Seattle Seahawks 3/1
Indianapolis Colts vs Green Bay Packers 8/1
Super Bowl Exact Result
Seattle beats New England 7/4
Seattle beats Indianapolis 5/1
New England beats Seattle 13/5
New England beats Green Bay 6/1
Green Bay beats New England 15/2
Green Bay beat Indianapolis 12/1
Indianapolis beats Seattle 9/1
Indianapolis beats Green Bay 14/1
Early Super Bowl Line
AFC +3
NFC -3
Super Bowl XLIX Spreads
Seattle Seahawks -3
New England Patriots +3
Super Bowl XLIX Spreads
Seattle Seahawks -6½
Indianapolis Colts +6½
Super Bowl XLIX Spreads
Green Bay Packers +2½
New England Patriots -2½
Super Bowl XLIX Spreads
Green Bay Packers -3
Indianapolis Colts +3
Will the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl?
Yes +125 (5/4)
No -155 (20/31)
Will the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl?
Yes +190 (19/10)
No -230 (10/23)
Will the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl?
Yes +550 (11/2)
No -900 (1/9)
Will the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl?
Yes +650 (13/2)
No -1200 (1/12)
Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the elegant efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):
Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@ElliottHarris.com.